Apparatus for cleaning and polishing automobiles



Oct. 20, 1931. B. K. GILLESPIE 1,827,885

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 16, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A R. N

\ ,fi'zdwzfcn" fee .17 6122615016,

Oct. 20, 1931. B. K. GILLESPIE 1,327,886

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1927 MD aw 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 B K. GILLESPIE Filed Dec. 16, 1927 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES Oct. 20, 1931. B. K. GILLESPIE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 16, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J7? Q)?" 368 )5. Gz'llespze,

Oct. 20, 1931. a. K. GILLESPIE 1,327,836

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 16, 1927 S-Sheets-Sheet 5 & 386 j. 617205;); e,

, Patented d ct. 20, 1 93 1 311E K, j iLL slIeI f on dH QA o, N r

1 x emits; 3

g'nssienon To e nnnsrin' An'ro nUnDnY SYSTEM, motion euro-nee, l mi ers, n conronarion DELAWARE 3 c: r i

- n nnn'rnsfnonn-otnnnmernnn-ronisnine- AUTOMOBILES A licationfiled -necembeme, 1927, senarno. 240,487.

r nvention relates generally to ap ara tus for cleaning and polishing automobiles which is adapteclto take care-oi anynumber,-

of automobiles.successively andin; rapid; orader, and it: has toido'moreespeciallyi w th; novel structurefor;supporting-and handling; I

c aning diRQliSh Ilgj perations re .cessive'ly carried out, the movement beingso timed that; each operation may be: complete: I

1y carried out: and the automobiles delivered rom the ompartments gcompletel-y l aned;

and polished,

h l a comp HIl'JHlGIILWllZh'; means: for be dilyf conveying the automobile -therethroughi which is of; s

such character; as; to greatly" facilitate:- the;

o ofz he pe ators and whereby thewarin ous operations may be; carried; out more quickly. and more eificiently.

tion: conveyon structure for" bodily carrying;

the automobile through the treating com-=1 3o jpartment Still; another: object.\ i to. provide stationaryx-track sections cooperating with themovr oppositesidesthereof upon which apparatus;

able conveyor: structure in suchla manner, asto) deliver; the-T automohilesrtlieretoj re ceive them therefrom,- such stationary tracle sections being so shaped as to :act as positive;

guides "for directing: the automobiles to and from the; cleaning compartments Without human aid g 40 Other objects and by referencetothedrawings; whereim Figures 1; isa plan, sectional iview 0t one;v form of apparatus embodylng; my glnvention I;.i F gure 21s awertical'sect ontalren substan:

tially. on line QjTTQflOiiFiQ- 1;" I

Figure 3 isfan enlarged fragmentary, Vertical sectiOIi throughgthe fioon and? track; structure and, taken substantially on, liner I I i 7 spacedlbloclis. Gircular.channeled:supp0rts 100' Another obj ect; is to :provide; the; treating I A furtherob'ectgis?to;provid e an-anti-trio} Figure l is aside elevatioin. partially in section, I taken; substantially at; the position indicated by line H; ofFig, 3;

Figure 5 is atransverse Vertical section.

(similan toFigure 3) through another form of trackstructure; I I I 1 Figure '6 is a top planview of a portionofv thetrackistructure shown in Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevated iew, partially insection, ofitheright hand track part Figure- 8 is-a transNerse i Vertical section (similar to Figure 3) through stillanother;

form of track structure;- I 1 Figure 9 is a top plan View of aportionzof 5 thetrack structure of Fig. 8; and; I Figure 1.0 is a'transverse vertical-- section- (similar to-Fig- 3') through an: additional I forum-ofltrackkstructurei I Q Referringto the, drawings,- and particularr .ly to Figsn1anda2, one form of; structu-rew which I have; chosen to i illustrate myxinvenetion comprises-Tancircular enclosure or, build.- a inghavingan outer Wall 10, concentric inner- I walltll and-roof 12. The concentric inner. Z5 and outerlwallsrform a :circular Washing and cleaning compartment. 13,, access to :whiclris had through a common I entrance-exit 14in;-

the-outer wall;10.- The compartment 18-.is1

sufficiently; Wide to-readiIy receive the cir-i so cular. automobile-supporting: and: handling: conveyor and suitable platforms along: the:

maygbe located and the operators may; stand.-

=The automobiles are bodily carrier-158a through the; compartment 13 :and an impai -m tant, ph ass of,- my. imt ention is the; provision offhighly efficientemeansi for so} carrying the v I I i I, w automobiles,,one-form oi which (Figs. Lto; adv nt ges: will become. appa ent. a i e cr ption 'PX'OgIG SBSHaRd I I whichextend continuously around-1 the-com: I

I ga-inclusive willrnowibe described... A pair 90. ofsuitably spaced foundation blocks: 16

partmentz 13,. in. concentric relation, are mounted upon the floor orground 15. These; blocks are, prei'erabb v formed of] stone ceg mentor some other, rigid andidurable mas terial1(Fig,.3).. Or, if desired; this founda tionmai-y consist,ofrcircular rows made up. of a, plurality, of separate and; conveniently 17 and 18 are mounted upon these foundation blocks and their side flanges are Y- shaped in cross-section to provide, in each instance, at opposite sides, upwardly opening ball grooves 19. These channeled supports are secured to the blocks 16 in any desired manner" and, preferably, by the studs and nuts 20. To receive, support and convey the automobiles, I providecontinuous, circular.

and concentrically located track sections 21 (inner) and 22 (outer) which are formed to provide a central automobile wheel-receiving channel having outwardly slanting side walls. The edges of these side walls are turned downwardly and outwardly to form an inverted V-shaped section to provide a vpair of opposite and downwardly opening ball grooves 23 for each track section. The track sections are mounted directly above the :channeled supportsl? and 18 with their reducing wear to a minimum.

It is desirable that these two track sections, although separate and distinct, be

driven in-their circular path as a single-moving unit. To this end, the under sides of these track sections are provided with integral, or otherwise, depending racks 25 and 26 which are engaged by pinion gears 27 and 28 mounted uponsha-ft29 which is journaled in bearings 30 and driven by a motor 31. The motor may belocated at any desir able place and suficiently remote as to not be harmed by the water used in-cleaning. Also, while I show and describe a motor as the power means, any other desirable motive force may be employed. Since the separated track sections are to travel in their circular path as a single moving unit, it is necessary that means be provided to regulate the relative speeds of these separate sections so that they complete one revolution in thesame given time; and this is accomplished by using a large outer pinion gear 28 with aproportionately smaller inner gear27 whereby the outer section is driven at fasterspeed to compensate for the greaterdistance it must travel and the inner section at such a relatively slowerspeed that both sections traverse the entire circular compartment. in the same lengthofgtime. The respective racks 25 and 26 have, different length teeth to compensate for the different size gears.- H p In this form, at the opposite? sides of the track sections, I provide elevated-stationary polishing apparatus may, in part, be located on these platforms and the operators may also stand on them. This floor surface is preferably formed of spaced strips or slats which readily permit the water and'other fluid and waste to pass therebetween and upon-the floor or a pit therebeneathi These side platforms instead of being elevated, as

shown, may be a part ofthe main floor sur-i face with the intermediate track mounted in a'pit ona level therewith. V g,

I also employ another continuous and cir= cular stationary platform 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) between the track sections 21 and22 and substantially'on a level therewith. This platform is also formedof spaced strips or slats supported (Fig; 3) by truss construction 34 seated in the central waste-receiving pit 35. The walls of this pit are formed of concrete, or stone, or some leak-proof'material and they taper upwardly and outwardly to provide a fairly large'circular trough throughout the circumference of the compartment. The blocks 16 are preferably located to serve as the upper parts of the opposite trough walls (Fig. 3). i

The automobiles may enter the treating compartment at 37 and emerge as at 38; but

this direction of travel of the automobile may be reversed if desired without departing from my invention. To guide thecars through the entrance-exit 1a to and'from themovable track, I provide (Fig. 1.) stationary track sections 39 (entrance) and 40 (exit) which are curved and formed of channeledpieces shaped similarly to the wheel receiving poi tion of the track sections 21' and 22, and which are immovably supported in any desired manner above the movable track. The ends. of these stationary track sections are flared and turned downwardly with the adjacent channeled sides turned outwardly toward and over the movable track sections in such a way that the automobiles may be readily deposited-on and received from the movable sections therebeneath without danger of harmto the same. These stationary sections may lead to a common platform (not shown) which may be located either within, or in an extension of, or on the outside of, the enclosure structure.

In the operation of the structure so far described, any number of automobiles, one

immediately after the other, may be driven or moved along the stationary track sections 39 and onto the continuously moving track sections 21 and22'therebeneath and they will be carried continuously along throughout the compartment until, they are again deposited upon the stationary exit track sections 40.

Upon entering the compartment :13, the automobiles may first be, each in its turn, subjected to 'a cleaningraction or preliminary platforms 32 which are substantiallyon the same level as thetrack. "The washing and soaking action by a plurality of top, bottom and side sprays 41, 42. and 43 in a manner it-is. then subjected to. successive treatments by k operators, including furtl1ers'oaking,.

illustrated in. 2. The apparatus: for so spraying the automobiles -may be of; any

' desired form, for example (Fig. 2) .it'may comprise a plurality of pipes 44iconnected. to.

a water source (not shown): and controlled manually by valve devices (:not shown), or'

' automatically, or otherwise. As. the car advances from. the position. shown in Fig.2, it moves clearof that spraying apparatus and washing'and polishing of-all partsof the automobile sothat by the. time it reaches: the platform or stationary track section: it is completely cleaned and polished and has passed inspection. T 1 s The water or other liquid, which isapplied. to the automobiles during their movement through the chamber, together with the waste,

.finds its way, in part, through the central sta tionary slatted platform 33 into the pit 35 and through the side platforms-32 tothe surface beneath, from which it may find, its way by suitably provided conduits (not shown),

,01 otherwise, into the trough pit 35 or to some Some. of theother and desirablenlocation. water will enter the channel of the track seC-. tions 21 and 22-and to permit immediate drainage of the-same, I provide a plurality of openings (Fig. 3) located at frequent intervals. in the. basesof such sections and.

which drain into the channels of the, sup. ports 17 and 18. These supports aredrainedinto the pit trough 35 by way of aplurality wof drain openings 46 located at frequent intervals therein. The inverted V .--shaped sides of the channeltrack sections 21. and 22 ex".

tend down over the u wardl ro 'ectin arms of the supports 17, and" 158: so as to prevent water from entering the ball races. and i-nte-r-.

fering with the functioning ofthe balls 24. The side flanges of the tracksections are also so associated with the. side flanges. of the lower supports 17 and 18. that the former are positively positioned upon the latter held against lateral displacement, but'rnay be readily lifted upwardly for-cleaning,,re-. pair, etc, purposes.

In Figs. 5 '6, and 1 form of apparatus embodying; myinvention, andv which is substantiallythe same asth at shown in Figs; 1; to 4, inclusive, except astothetrack structure. In this instance, 'I- employs'paced.

circular foundation supports 48, each carryingaseparate, continuous and circularytrack section. 7 Each track section consists of circular and continuous frames 49 supported at intervals by frame pieces49a and adapted to carry two circular rows of; rollers 5Q. hav ing their inner. ends projecting downwardly and inwardly to provide a V-shaped wheelreceiving space for-positively positioning and carrying the. automobiles throughout thecom partment 13. The rollers in each row arelio? I cated side by side.- rather closely, 1 indicated Fig. 6;, and are, preferably,; supported upon 7 the frames 49 byrollenbearings-indicated generally at 51 (Fig-7,). In this form, th e automobile is bodily? conveyed by positively rotating certain of: the supporting rollers as follows; ()ne roller in each group has its supporting'shaft 52 extended and supported to, receive a beveled gear 53 (outer) and 53? (inner); adaptedtomesh with and be driven by, respectively, floating circular, continuous and; ooncentrlc-rmgs 54 and-54?. These rings.

are. each providedwith an-upper toothed eled gears 53 and 53; and a lower or under toothed surface adapted to be engaged by gears. 55. and-5'5 respectively, carried; by: a, common drive shaft 56 driven by a motor 1 5'1, or other suitable'means, located at any desirable positiorn In this instance, as with the structure shown in Fig 3, the inner gear 55%xis of smaller diameterthan the outer gear 55 with thetoothed surfaces of the rings 54 and 54 of a corresponding length so that the driven rollers of the inner track section are rotated at a slower rate of speed than the dri-venrollers of the outer section tocause theautomobileto travel in a uniform manner from oneend of-the compartment tothe other surface-adapted to cooperate with the bev as will be wellunderstood. The automobile is driven upon the stationary track sections 9 39. atthe entrance and onto the rollers be. neath, andthe automobile brakes are applied in, such. a manner as to lock the rear heels against rotation astherollers 50 rotate. As, these rollers 50 'move,'the friction between the automobile wheel and the same'is such that the ELUtOIlIQbllQlS carried along; slowly by and upon the rollers. Other details and 0p erationare substantially the same as described in connection Withthe forms-of Figsrl to 4 inclusive. V j

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show still another form of track structure. embodying my invention which comprises innerand outer spaced track supporting frames '58 carrying rol-lersf59'ar ranged similarly to those ofthe'form of Fig. 5 to provide V-shaped roller supports (Fig. 8). Upon these rollers I mount a circular, continuous-andone-piece track ,60 having spaced and depending V-shaped portions 60 Fri wvhich :fit over and'ride upon therolle'rs 59.

carried thereby and which roll along upon the continuous circular track support 7 One of the side platforms carries a circular rack 61 adapted to be engaged by a pinion v 3 ,62 carried by drive shaft63 which is driven in any suitable manner as by the motor 64.

The bottoms of the channels 60 are provided with frequent openings .75 to drain the water elusive.

An additional form of track structure is shown ,in Fig. 10. In this form, I employ similar to those described in connection with the form of Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive. These track sections are mounted in a pit 66 upon suitable supports 67. A circular conveyor platform 68 made of wood, or other suitable material, is rigidly secured to the upper movable channels of the track sections for movement therewith by a plurality of bolt and block devices 69 located, at frequent intervals, .therearound. The conveyor platform may be a continuous piece or a plurality of slightly spaced slats, as desired." The plat form is sufliciently wide to receive the auto mobile thereon and to provide at the sides thereof platforms 68Fupon which the operators, or some of them, may stand and ride along with the automobile. This platform is preferably mounted on the level of the floor 7 O. and the pit 66 extends through- Iout the width of the platform so that all of the water and waste willpassdirectly thereinto. 7 Y

Motion is transmitted to the platform by a rack 71 engaged by a pinion 72 on drive shaft 7 3. This shaft is driven by amotorTt or other suitable means. i

In the operation of this latter structure, the automobile is driven upon the stationary track 39 (Fig. 1) and moved therealong onto the movable conveyor 68 therebeneath and is carried along and treated so as toemerge upon the stationary track sections 40' completely cleaned and polished. Further details and operation are substantially as de- Although I have shown and described several forms of apparatus for carrying out my inventiornit will be understood thatvarious other changes in details and arrangement-of parts may be made {therein without depart-' ing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

p I claim V 1. In apparatus of spaced circular track sections which are the character described,

' disconnected and 'continuousinner and outer: clrcular and concentric track sections, and a single drlving means connected to both sa1d sections in such a manner that both, although traveling relatively different distances, make a completerevolution in the same time.

2. In apparatus of the character described, 7

disconnected and continuous inner and outer circular and concentric track sections, and a single driving means connectedto both said sections in such a manner that'both, although traveling relatively diiierent distances, make a a complete revolution in the same time, said means comprising racks carried by said track sections, different sized pinion gears engaging said racks, and a single drive shaft carrying both said gears. i 1

. 3. In apparatus of the character described, disconnected and continuous inner and outer circular and concentric track sections, means for moving said outer section at one speed,

.means for moving said inner section at a relatively slower speed, and a common actuator for both said moving means.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an automobile support and conveyor comprising separated track sections including anti-friction supports for the same.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supportand conveyor comprising separated track sections, a separate support for each such section, and anti-friction bearings between each section and support.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

a channeled track section for receiving wheels of the automobile, a support for said track section having upstanding arms associated with the sides of said track section so as to form enclosed pockets therebetween, and anti-friction devices in said pockets for carrying said section upon said support.

7. In apparatus ofthe character described, a track section having an upwardly opening channel for receiving wheels of the automo bile, the sides of said section being turned downwardly at their edges to provide downwardly opening ball grooves, a support beneath said section having upstanding arms Y-shaped in cross-section to provide upwardly opening'ball grooves which cooperate with said downwardly 'opening grooves to form ballretai'ners, and a plurality of balls in said retainer spaces upon which said track section rides. scribed in connection with the formof Figs;

a pair of separated continuous, circular and rotatably mounted track sections, a support for each said section, said sections and sup.- ports each having a pair of aligned grooves, and anti-friction devices in said grooves, and means for moving said sections over said devices. f

10.- In apparatus of the character de scribed, meansfor bodily conveying the vehicle including a base, vehicle wheel-receiving elements upon said base and'shaped to provide predetermined lateral alignment of the vehicle, and anti-friction means between said elements and support. 1 I

11. In apparatus of the character described, means for bodily conveying the vehicle including'a base, vehicle wheel-receiving elements upon said base and shaped to provide predetermined lateral alignment of the vehicle, and anti-friction rollers between the wheel of the vehicle and said base. 1 f

12. In apparatus of the character described, spaced track sections for receiving the vehicle wheels, a separate support for each track section, each said track ,sectionhaving its edges overla 'op-ing said support in such a manner thatthe track may bem-oved vertically but will not be displaced laterally,

13. In apparatus of .the character .de-

scribed, spaced track sections, a separate support for each track section having upstanding arms, sa1d track sectlons having channcled portions the sides of which are turned;

downwardly to form pockets for receiving the upstanding arms of said support-t0 pre' vent lateral displacement of the track sections. j v

' 14. In apparatus of the character described, a track suppor.t l1aving an upwardly opening ball groove, a channeled [track section movable relative to said support, ball bearing devices associated with said groovebetween 'said support and track section, the channel side of said track section being extended downwardly to provide a depending skirt along the side of said support to con-- ceal said groove and ball bearing devices.

15. In apparatus of the character described, circular concentric movable track sections, means for'moving said track sections at relative speeds, stationary platforms along the outer sides of-said-sections, a stationary platform between said sections, andstationary track sections adapted to deliver the vehicle to and receive it from the movable sections without human aid.

16. In apparatus of the character described, separated movable track sections hay-- ing a channel for receiving the opposite ve- 'biles, movable conveyor means arranged to re- :"ceivethe wheels of the automobile to bodily 'iatleast oneroller 0f 'eachf'said pair.

flared laterally so as to deliver the vehicle to andcreceive it from themovable tracksec- ,tions' without human aid.

v17. 'In apparatus for cleaning automocarry it along, platforms along the sides of said "conveyor and at the level thereof, a plat- .form along the mid-part of'said conveyor 1 gin-cans, trackidevices supporting saidconvieyor, anti-friction elements" betweensaid tr-ackdevices and conveyor, and means for moving said conveyor alongsaid jtrack devices. p v. I

18. In apparatus of the class vdescribed, a pair of separated, circular, concentric track sectionseach comprised of a series of pairs of rollers: with the rollers of eachpair'mounted in V-formation, and means fordriving flroll'rs, said connections being yarran'ged'to I drive the rollers of the outer track section at a faster rate relatively to "said inner sec-v tion to accommodaterotation oflsaid -sections together as a unit. 7 '20. In apparatus of he class described, a pair of separated, circular, concentric track "sections each comprised. ofa series ofpairs of rollers with the rollers ofeach pair mount:- ed. in Vatormat'ion, common drive means for both said track sections, and means connect-- ing said-drivel means and rollers for move- 5 mentof the rollers of the outer track section at a greater speed relative to the rollers of the inner track.

21. In apparatus of the class described, I

a pair of V-shaped, circular and concentric track sections, the side walls of which are formed'by a plurality of successive rollers,

I .a common drive member forboth said sections, and drive connections between the rollers of each section and said drive member for driving certain of the rollers of the outer section at a greater speed relative to the speed 7 of the inner section. a v 22. In apparatus of the class described,

a pair ofV-shaped, circularand concentric track sections, the side walls of whichv are 7 formed by a plurality of successive rollers, a

commondrive member for both said sections,

differential drive rings f0! said sections, and

iconn'ectionsjbetween certain of the'rollers of theirespective sections and said drive ring,'

and connections between said drive member and the respective rings for driving said 'certain rollers of one track section ata greater speed relativeto the rollers of theOther'sec- I j 1 I i i 13G tion. I p

231111 apparatiis of the class described,

a pair of V-shap'ed, circular and concentric track sections, the sidewalls of which are 7 formed by a plurality ofsu'ccessive rollers, a v main drive "shaft, a driven shaft for each of the rollers forming one of theV-sides of each track section, a gear on each said roller shaft, a drive ring for each track section connected, respectively, with said roller gears,

and differential gear connections between said drive shaft and sald ringsfor driving said rings and the respective rollers at dliferent 'rates of speed.

24. In apparatusof the class described,

a'pair'of circular. concentric tracklsections,

a support for each said section, a rack ring earned by each said sectlon, a mam drive shaft, and differential speed gears carried by said shaft and engaging saidrings, respectively, for moving the inner and outer of said sections at difierent speeds:

25. In apparatus of the class'described,

a pair ofcircu'iar, concentric track sections of channel-shape 111 cross-section, a support for each said SQCtlOIl, a rack ring carrled by theunderside of each said section, a main drive shaft, agear carried by said drive shaft and engaging the rack ringof the inner track section, a larger gear carried" by said 7 drive shaft and engag ng the'rack ring of the outer -track sectiomand means for driving said.

shaft to cause moyement of said gears and rings torotate said track sections at difier- 'ent speeds in which'each track section makes a complete revolutionin the same length of time. V v I Intestimony whereof, I have subscribed Jmy name. 1 I 1 Y BEE K. GILLESPIE.

so a, 

